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Overview
Jan Brett's intricate illustrations against a beautiful papyrus background make a stunning picture book of a favorite story-this time featuring Noah's granddaughter. As the floodwaters rise, she helps take the animals onto the ark and get them settled down. But it's not easy when giraffes are sleeping next to pandas and lions are curled up with turkeys. Finally the gentle rocking of the ark lulls them all to sleep until the waters recede and Grandpa Noah, his family, and all the animals leave the ark. This simple telling, combined with extraordinary illustrations of every animal imaginable, makes On Noah's Ark perfect for young and old.
Noah's granddaughter assists him in bringing the animals two-by-two on to the ark and helps them adjust to their new cramped quarters during the next forty days of rain.
Synopsis
Now, the very youngest readers can enjoy this classic tale in a beautiful board book version, bursting with the colorful animals and playful storytelling for which Jan Brett is beloved by millions of readers.
Jan's imagining of the story of Noah through the eyes of his granddaughter was a New York Times bestseller and is one of her most popular picture books.
Publishers Weekly
Brett (The Mitten), long celebrated for her lush depictions of animals in vibrant, often exotic settings, turns her focus to the popular Bible story-and omits the biblical framework. In a childlike, pleasingly spare text, Noah's grandchild describes some of the preparations made to protect her family and the world's animals from the impending rains. Soon, "The animals go in two by two./ Big animals thump and bump onto the ark..../ Small animals squeeze in." During the 40 days and 40 nights, "the ark rocks back and forth like a giant cradle," lulling its passengers to sleep; at last the vessel makes land, and "two by two the animals look for new homes." There's no mention of God or his relationship to Noah, nor any reason given for the Flood. The art, however, is characteristically striking. In her signature style, Brett depicts a story-within-the-story via smaller side panel artwork (she executes her work on papyrus, to recall the antiquity of the story). On each panel, a keyhole-like window in the shape of a different animal allows readers to view some of the action. In the main compositions, realistic-looking creatures of varying size and hue create a colorfully jumbled menagerie. While Brett leaves it to presiding adults to place the tale in its spiritual and/or storytelling context, her accomplished visuals should fully engage young readers. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
The Barnes & Noble ReviewAdmired children's book creator Jan Brett delivers this breathtaking version of the Noah's Ark tale, transfixing readers with her familiar lush, colorful illustrations and eye-catching borders -- but this time including an ancient, biblical twist. Told from the perspective of Noah's grandchild, Brett's simply worded, striking rendition follows the animals two-by-two as they climb into the ark and make it their home for 40 days and 40y nights. With papyrus-illustrated borders that feature animal-shaped windows opening into more action, the tale keeps the religious aspect at bay and focuses on the story itself, describing how "Big animals thump and bump onto the ark. Middle-sized animals clip-clop by. Small animals squeeze in. Flying creatures perch on beams above. Swimming animals splish-splash below." Each spread shows a bevy of fauna (some even now extinct) squeezed tightly into the ark, and when the rains are done and the ark hits dry land, all of the critters flock away: "East, west, north, and south they go. Some of the animals stay with us. Grandpa plants a new seed. Soon we will all be settled into this new place." Contrasted with the wintry hues of her Scandinavia-set books, Brett's warmly illustrated tale captures the animals' rich hues and the close quarters of the ark, giving audiences a fresh treat that showcases even more of her solid talent. Shana Taylor
Publishers Weekly
Brett (The Mitten), long celebrated for her lush depictions of animals in vibrant, often exotic settings, turns her focus to the popular Bible story-and omits the biblical framework. In a childlike, pleasingly spare text, Noah's grandchild describes some of the preparations made to protect her family and the world's animals from the impending rains. Soon, "The animals go in two by two./ Big animals thump and bump onto the ark..../ Small animals squeeze in." During the 40 days and 40 nights, "the ark rocks back and forth like a giant cradle," lulling its passengers to sleep; at last the vessel makes land, and "two by two the animals look for new homes." There's no mention of God or his relationship to Noah, nor any reason given for the Flood. The art, however, is characteristically striking. In her signature style, Brett depicts a story-within-the-story via smaller side panel artwork (she executes her work on papyrus, to recall the antiquity of the story). On each panel, a keyhole-like window in the shape of a different animal allows readers to view some of the action. In the main compositions, realistic-looking creatures of varying size and hue create a colorfully jumbled menagerie. While Brett leaves it to presiding adults to place the tale in its spiritual and/or storytelling context, her accomplished visuals should fully engage young readers. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
Noah's granddaughter appears in this story of the ark and the animals do not just line up two by two, board the boat and silently wait until the weather clears. They thump and they bump, they clip-clop and they splish-splash, they push and they shove until their activity sets the ark rocking and they fall asleep in a gigantic jumble of creatures. The little girl quietly makes her way around and untangles the animals as the rain continues. Then one day the sun is shining. Noah sends a dove to explore and when the bird returns with an olive branch, Noah is sure land is near. When he goes ashore most of the animals go off in various directions, but a few stay with Noah and his granddaughter. Noah plants a seed and they begin to settle on the dry land. The intricate illustrations, done in watercolors and gouache with papyrus borders will appeal to kids, especially the detailed pictures of the jumble of animals. 2003, G P Putnam's Sons/Penguin Young Reader's Group, Ages 4 to 8.— Carolyn Mott Ford